Success for GMK6300L - manitowoccranes.com/media/Files/Looking Up/2012... · Success for GMK6300L. 2 | Looking Up | August 2012 In this issue we look in detail at the grove gMK6300L

A M A N I T O W O C C R A N E S M A G A Z I N E

August 2012 English Volume 11 Issue 3

Dealer Profile Paterson Simons

Product Focus Potain MCT 385

Factory Focus PVC opens in U.S.

Success for GMK6300L

2 | Looking Up | August 2012

In this issue we look in detail at the grove gMK6300L and the impact it has made on the crane industry. It was first seen at bauma 2010, and although that show will largely be remembered for the travel disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano, the visitors who were able to attend were drawn to the gMK6300L and its sister model, the gMK6400.

Manufacturers have always had to fight for attention when presenting new products at trade shows, none more so than bauma, the world’s biggest construction equipment show. And yet, among the thousands of product launches at bauma 2010, the two six-axles cranes

were able to claim more than their fair share of headlines. A major reason for the attention is that both offer

best-in-class capabilities. Any piece of equipment that can offer owners capabilities not available in rival machines is always going to attract attention. But another important reason for the cranes’ appeal is what they represent as a team: a totally new strategy for the six-axle class. Virtually every manufacturer has a six-axle machine that is good for a variety of jobs. But Manitowoc’s engineers decided that for their six-axle crane “good” wasn’t good enough.

so they mapped out designs for the gMK6300L, consulted with customers, adjusted the design, consulted again, etc. They knew that customers wanted a six-axle crane in a compact package with class-leading capacity, a modern design and an exceptional boom. They knew they could create a “good” crane in all those areas. But to be the best in all those areas, they would need not one, but two cranes.

The rest quickly fell into place and the two-crane strategy – unique to Manitowoc – is off to a perfect start. The gMK6300L is already a worldwide hit, and when production deliveries of the gMK6400 begin later this year, the final part of the strategy should play out perfectly.

In this issueComment

A number of trade and brand names appear in Looking Up. For ease of design, these are displayed without their superscript or subscript symbols. The most common names are: MAnITowoC®, nATIonAl CrAne®, MAnITowoC CrAne CAre®, MAnITowoC FInAnCe®, Grove®, PoTAIn®, TwIn-loCKTM, MeGATrAK®, MeGAForMTM, ePIC®, CrAnesTAr®, vIsIon CAbTM, MAX-erTM and rInGer®.

Virtually every manufacturer has a six-axle machine that is good for a variety of jobs. But Manitowoc’s engineers decided that for their six-axle crane “good” wasn’t good enough.

Ben Shaweditor-in-Chief

News ............................ 3Manitowoc around the world.

Events News ................. 5Trade shows and open days.

Product Focus .............. 8Analysis of the Grove GMK6300l.

News Report ............... 12The opening of Passo Fundo.

Customer Profile ........ 13UK company babcock.

Factory Focus ............. 14The new PvC at shady Grove.

Job Site Report ........... 16Grove and Manitowoc team up.

Job Site Report ........... 18 stadium expansion with Potain.

Job Site Report ........... 20Cranes at an Indonesian mine.

Dealer Profile ............. 22Paterson simons from Ghana.

Product Focus ............ 23Asian Potain topless crane.

Crane Care ................. 24review of the eMeA conference.

Technical Update ........ 25enCore rebuilds an Igo 50.

News .......................... 26Manitowoc around the world.

August 2012

Copies are available free of charge to crane customers, deal-ers, end users and enthusiasts. Material published in Looking Up remains the intellectual property of The Manitowoc Company, Inc.and may not be reproduced with-out prior written approval. Looking Up is written and designed by:

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www.manitowoc.com

Publisher: Ingo schiller

Editor-in-Chief: ben shaw

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Contributing Editors: Amanda barbarossaCarole bolomier John bittner Chris bratthauar ronan CloudPunitha GovindasamyDamian Joseph Cristelle lacourtstephen To Jean-Pierre Zaffiro

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WeLcome

On the cOver:The Grove GMK6300L has become an international hit over the past two years. This unit belongs to Feldmann of Switzerland. For more see page 8.

August 2012 | Looking Up | 3

Celebrating the Makro Engenharia order. Left to right are: Larry Weyers, Manitowoc; Fernando Rodrigues Filho, Makro; Luciano Dias, Manitowoc; Fernando Rodrigues, Makro; Bruce Buchan, Mani-towoc; Glen Tellock, Manitowoc.

Unique GSK55 for Germanythe first grove gsK55 truck-mounted crane for german crane rental company Klema Kranverleih is proving a real hit. the 55 t (60 ust) capacity gsK55 has a unique design that combines the upperworks of a grove gMK3055 all-terrain crane with a specially-designed truck chassis that allows it to travel as a truck trailer. When combined, these design factors give the gsK55 advantages that other cranes cannot offer.

Klema Kranverleih was convinced of the crane’s competitive advantage after the company saw a live product demonstration.

Wolfgang Klenner, managing director of Klema Kranverleih, said the gsK55 is perfect for road travel.

“Because it weighs less than 40 t (44 ust) when it’s towed by a two-axle truck, we can travel on german roads without the special permit required for other cranes in this capacity class.”

At the delivery of the latest GSK55. Left to right are: Martin Ehrlich, Klema Kranverleih; Dieter Popp, Manitowoc; Wolfgang Klenner, Klema Kranverleih.

World number 1

Makro’s 32-crane order

three Potain cranes are working on the 442 m (1,450 ft) World One tower in Mumbai, India. the new building will be the tallest residential tower in the world and India’s first “Mega structure.” the luffing jib cranes are lifting steel, glass and concrete to ensure the $440 million project completes on time.

Arabian Construction Company and simplex Infrastructures created a joint venture to complete the

project for Lodha Developers. the MR 160 C cranes were chosen for their efficient climbing, compact size and quick assembly process. two were bought from Potain’s dealer in Mumbai, Infinity solutions, while the third crane came from a previous job in Dubai.

the MR 160 Cs have 40 m (131 ft) jibs and will eventually reach heights of over 460 m (1,509 ft). they arrived in February 2011, and will remain until 2014.

Crane rental company Makro Engenharia has placed the largest order so far from Manitowoc’s new Brazilian factory. the order for 32 grove cranes was finalized during the inauguration ceremony for the Passo Fundo factory in March. Of the 32 cranes, 16 are grove rough-terrain cranes from Passo Fundo, while the other 16 are grove all-terrain cranes.

David Rodrigues, commercial director from Makro, said the reliability

and service available with Manitowoc cranes are first class.

“We have many Manitowoc cranes in our rental fleet,” he said. “And we continue to invest with Manitowoc because these cranes deliver the best dependability of all the cranes in our fleet.”

Makro will rent the cranes for a variety of applications, including mining and construction, renewable energy, and oil and gas projects.

Two Potain luffing jib cranes on the world’s tallest residential tower.

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toronto, Canada-based MJR Contractors purchased a Manitowoc 12000-1 crawler crane to join other Manitowoc and National Crane machines at the tullamore Pumping station and Reservoir in Caledon, Ontario.

the Manitowoc 12000-1 will complement work being performed at the job site by a Manitowoc 8500. Both cranes will form and pour concrete, place large pipes and handle other duties. MJR also plans to rent the cranes to a structural steel contractor that will work at the reservoir and pumping station.

Both crawler cranes were sold to MJR by Manitowoc dealer strongco, which is one of Canada’s largest construction equipment distributors. On site to assist with assembling the new Manitowoc 12000-1 was a National Crane NBt55 boom truck. the

NBt55 will also help load and unload trucks at the job site. It was provided by scarborough, Ontario-based Ward Crane Rental.

the $42.63 million tullamore Pumping station and Reservoir project began in late 2011 and is expected to finish December 2012.

True dedication to a favorite brand

Manitowoc teamwork at pump station

The new Manitowoc 12000-1 belonging to MJR Contractors.

Tough trip to TanzaniaA Grove RT crane working at the port of Unguja in Tanzania.

getting cranes to the world’s most remote job sites can be a monumental task, but Manitowoc has a long history of doing just that. One recent example saw the company draw on its vast shipping experience and strong dealer network to deliver two grove cranes to Zanzibar, tanzania.

A grove YardBoss YB5518 industrial crane and a grove Rt880E rough-terrain crane were shipped to the main port of unguja, one of the two islands that comprise Zanzibar. Manitowoc and ttD’99, its dealer in tanzania, mapped out an 87-day journey for the

cranes. the route took the cranes from Baltimore, Md., in the u.s., via Durban, south Africa, through Mombasa, Kenya, before they eventually landed in Zanzibar.

the final leg of the journey from Mombasa to Zanzibar had to be made on a specially chartered landing craft because of the shallow draft of Zanzibar’s port and the fact that there were no dock cranes to unload the cranes. Despite all the difficulties, the cranes were delivered on time and are helping the port improve its material handling operations.

u.s.-based crane operator and self-professed Manitowoc enthusiast John Bouschor showed his passion for Manitowoc in a novel way: a tattoo on his right arm of Manitowoc’s legacy logo. the logo is framed by the phrase: “If I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand.”

Bouschor has worked in the construction industry for

more than 30 years, mostly as an operator, but also as an ironworker and rigger. Over the years he has worked on several cranes, but always prefers Manitowoc to others brands.

“Working on different job sites – whether it’s a bridge, a power plant or a high-rise – when I show up, I just pray I’ve got a red

one,” he said. “the 4000, 4100 and 4600, those are true workhorses. We’ve got one on the job now, a 4100; it’s more than 30 years old and runs every day with minimal maintenance.”

Bouschor is currently working with Zachry Holdings, Inc. on a power plant project for Florida Power & Light.

A Manitowoc enthusiast shows the ultimate commitment to Manitowoc.

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Manitowoc welcomed close to 300 guests for a customer event at its factory in Wilhelmshaven, germany, to highlight the plant’s latest quality improvements. the event also provided visitors with the first opportunity to see grove’s gMK6400 being put through its paces. the crane is the most powerful six-axle, all-terrain crane on the market and visitors watched it make a series of impressive picks.

the Quality Days Forum welcomed crane owners from across Europe, as well as America, Canada and Australia.

thomas steuer, vice president of operations at the Wilhelmshaven factory, said the event emphasized Manitowoc’s commitment to building high-quality cranes.

“We want to be open and transparent with our customers and not just talk about our

improvements, but show people what those improvements are,” he said. “Improving quality is a continuous process and our primary focus, but we never forget the importance of maintaining close relationships with our customers.”

Manitowoc has focused on improving infrastructure at Wilhelmshaven over several years to refine all aspects of crane production. the quality improvements range from design and purchasing through to technical services, training, manufacturing and delivery.

After a factory tour to see the latest improvements, guests gathered to see a working demonstration of the gMK6400. this new addition to the factory’s production line is a 400 t (450 ust) all-terrain crane.

Quality improvements celebrated in Germany

A GMK6400 lifts another Grove AT crane at a customer event in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

events neWs

More than 50 representatives from 25 Asia-Pacific dealers of Manitowoc, grove and Potain cranes joined Manitowoc leadership for a conference in Bangkok, thailand. At the event, the dealers heard about the latest developments from Manitowoc and discussed issues affecting their businesses.

During the conference, Manitowoc held presentations on new products, factory improvements in the region and best business practices, and staged workshops to discuss strategy and suggest improvements.

Frank Lazenby, a director at WAtM Crane sales and service, a Manitowoc dealer in Western Australia, said the event was an opportunity to connect with Manitowoc leadership.

“this was the best dealer conference I’ve attended,” Lazenby said. “It’s one of Manitowoc’s strengths that the company really works to provide the best support

and information to its dealers. the management in Asia-Pacific go above and beyond to help dealers.”

Manitowoc Cranes senior management flew in from around the world to attend the event. Among others, the dealers heard from Eric Etchart, president and general manager; Ingo schiller, senior vice president of global marketing and product management; and Bob Hund, executive vice president for Manitowoc Crane Care.

the event also included recognitions for new or outstanding dealers in the region. Robert Carden, engineering director of tidd Ross todd, was recognized for tRt’s achievement of Elite status for Manitowoc Crane Care. Meanwhile, RMB services group, from Australia, was recognized as the newest dealer for Asia-Pacific, having been appointed a representative for Manitowoc and grove cranes.

Asian dealers gather in Thailand

Delegates at this year’s conference for Manitowoc, Grove and Potain dealers in Asia-Pacific.


Manitowoc showcased nine cranes at Ctt 2012 – its largest collection at a Russian exhibition. the cranes were displayed on the booths of global Cranes, Kramax and ust (universal spetstechnika Ltd), three of its Russian distributors.

One of the products shown on the global Cranes booth was the grove gMK6300L, which made its first appearance at a Russian trade show. It was also one of the largest machines at Ctt 2012. taking center stage on the Kramax booth was the Potain Igo t 130, the world’s largest self-erecting crane, which was also appearing at a Russian show

for the first time. Klaus Kroeppel, vice

president of sales for Central and Eastern Europe

at Manitowoc Cranes, said the cranes highlighted the company’s broad range of equipment.

“Our selection of cranes at Ctt showed the very latest lifting technology from Manitowoc,” he said. “Our brand is well-established in Russia and our strategy of having the sales and support to back up our cranes has made us a market leader.”

In addition to the gMK6300L, Manitowoc showed a gBt35 truck crane, which is assembled in Russia. And along with the Igo t 130, the MDt 178 top-slewing crane was among the tower cranes displayed. As well as exhibiting cranes, Manitowoc highlighted the services it offers through Manitowoc Crane Care.

Manitowoc supported its dealer for Qatar, Mannai trading, at the Project Qatar exhibition earlier this year. With the country hosting soccer’s World Cup in 2022, thoughts are already turning to the stadium and infrastructure construction necessary to stage the event. Project Qatar took place in the country’s capital Doha, which is also home to Mannai trading’s headquarters.

the company presented information on the grove mobile cranes and National Crane boom trucks it represents. Among the most recent deliveries from Mannai trading are a series of grove YardBoss industrial cranes.

Kirsten Davidson, marketing manager for Manitowoc Middle East,

said the show reflected the growing interest in Qatar.

“We’re receiving more enquiries about supplying cranes to Qatar as the country begins preparations for the World Cup,” she said. “In addition, there are other developments taking shape, which is positive news for the region.”

events neWs

Some of the Manitowoc cranes shown at CTT 2012.

The Mannai Trading booth at the Project Qatar event.

Largest Manitowoc showing in Russia

Support for rising Qatar marketPotain dealer Moser Baumaschinen held an open day to celebrate its 40th anniversary in the german market and to showcase its range of Potain self-erecting cranes. the event took place at the company’s headquarters in Plattling and featured several live demonstrations. Cranes on display included the Igo t 85 A, Igo 50, Igo 36 and Igo MC 13.

Robert Moser, owner of Moser Baumaschinen, said the day reinforced the strong relationship between the company and its customers.

“these self-erecting cranes are fast and simple to erect, and we showed customers the benefits they bring to the job site,” he said. “the open day gave visitors an insight into the latest innovations in lifting equipment.”

Moser became a Potain dealer in 1988 and over the years, the partnership between it and Manitowoc has grown. today the company offers sales and rental of Potain self-erecting cranes and Manitowoc Crane Care customer support. Moser has more than 70 staff, including 40 service technicians, working across southeast germany.

Potain dealer celebrates 40 years

Robert Moser


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Boom time in Brazil

Open Day in Saudi Arabia

German gathering celebrates Potain

this year’s M&t Expo 2012, in sao Paulo, Brazil, was hugely successful for Manitowoc Cranes. the company presented its first crane from the Passo Fundo facility and showed a range of other cranes from across its brands. there were also several large orders concluded, including a 13-crane deal for construction and engineering giant Odebrecht.

Luciano Dias, vice president of sales for Manitowoc Brazil, said the company’s presence at M&t Expo embodied its commitment to Latin America.

“We talked to visitors about our new factory in

Passo Fundo, which provides them with a faster, more efficient infrastructure to support their needs. We also highlighted the variety of funding options available through Manitowoc Finance and showed a broad selection of cranes suited to all kinds of applications.”

the exhibition marked the first time the grove gMK6300L was shown at a Latin American trade show. Also on display was the Potain Igo 13 self-erecting crane and a grove Rt765E-2 rough-terrain crane from Passo Fundo. From the range of industrial cranes, Manitowoc showed a YardBoss YB4409XL.

YBA Kanoo, Manitowoc’s saudi Arabian dealer for grove and Manitowoc, staged a successful open day at its facility in Dammam. More than 100 guests attended, including representatives from the country’s major contractors and rental companies. Freddy sherman, CEO of Kanoo’s commercial division, and David semple, Manitowoc’s vice president of sales for the Middle East and Africa, were both present.

During the day, several deals were concluded, including many for grove’s Rt765E-2. Among the most notable deals were an order for 10 from saudi Cranes and an order for five from saudi

Bin Ladin group. there was also considerable interest in a Manitowoc 14000 that was shown at the open day. the crane stopped at the Kanoo facility on its way to an exhibition in Jeddah.

David semple said the event was a good opportunity to discuss upcoming projects with customers.

“We talked to a number of customers about upcoming construction projects for 2012 and how Manitowoc crawler cranes can help with those,” he said. “And we concluded deals for many grove Rt cranes, which are helping in a variety of applications in the region.”

The Manitowoc booth at M&T Expo 2012.YBA Kanoo technicians by the company’s Manitowoc 14000.

At the GEBR. MAYER open day. Left to right are: Klaus Kroeppel, Manitowoc, Philippe Cohet, Manitowoc, Ms Lämmermann, GEBR. MAYER, Wilhelm Lämmer-mann, GEBR. MAYER, Matthias Sorg, Manitowoc.

Long-term Potain dealer gEBR. MAYER hosted an open day to show customers the company’s wide range of equipment. the event took place at the company’s headquarters in Fürth and welcomed 1,500 visitors. Among the exhibits were six Potain self-erecting cranes.

Wilhelm Lämmermann, managing director of gEBR.

MAYER, said the Igo t 130, the largest Potain self-erecting crane, was a particular highlight at the event.

“Customers are always impressed by the capabilities of the crane — it’s not every day they see an 8 t (8.8 ust) capacity, 50 m (164 ft) jib crane that can be transported on three trucks and erected in just four hours.”

the other Potain self-erecting cranes on display included the Igo MC 13, Igo MA 21, Igo 32, Igo t 70 and HDt 80. Established in 1924, gEBR. MAYER is one of germany’s leading construction equipment distributors and represents many well-known brands. the company has represented Potain for more than 53 years.


he common feeling among customers of the gMK6300L is that it’s a crane that does everything

owners expect, plus allows them to take on more. Perhaps the best evidence to support this is the large number of repeat orders flowing in. so far, the biggest single order for the crane is six units, placed by Fahad Al tamimi, a large saudi Arabian rental company.

“We took the gMK6300L because of its long boom,” says contracts and operations manager Mohammed Al tamimi of the large order. “We need it for a lot of long-reach work and we’re looking to save time.”

the first units for Al tamimi have already been delivered, with the others arriving in the next few months. Also expecting an additional gMK6300L is u.s. rental giant ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., which placed its order for a second machine after seeing the success of its first at subsidiary Central Rent-A-Crane. And it’s a similar story in India, where shri Dinesh Cranes services has ordered a second gMK6300L, following positive experiences with the first.

the obvious question is: With the global market for cranes still relatively quiet and the gMK6300L being such a

large capacity crane, why are so many companies signing up for multiple units? the answers vary, of course, by company and country, but a single theme runs throughout – with an 80 m (262 ft) boom, a 300 t (350 ust) capacity and a compact carrier, it can handle just about anything.

Inside the Manitowoc company,

there was a huge amount of anticipation before the crane was presented at the bauma 2010 trade show in germany. the company was confident it had a winning design, but even those closest to the development process admit they

are surprised with the scale of the crane’s success.

Andreas Cremer, Manitowoc’s product manager for all-terrain cranes, was one of those involved in the development.

“We expected great things for the gMK6300L, but to see the full success of the launch is hugely satisfying,” he said. “We worked very hard on the design, manufacture and testing of this crane, so it’s rewarding to see customers react so positively.”

Cremer also said the success is vindication for the company’s two-model strategy for six-axle cranes.

“When we first discussed ideas for six-axle cranes with customers, they were very clear. they said, ‘If you can create a crane with an 80 m boom, then do it. Don’t sacrifice the reach, just to gain a bit more capacity.’ We took those conversations to heart, went back to the factory and devised our strategy for six-axle cranes.

“We decided to produce two cranes for the class: the gMK6300L, with the longest boom in its class, and the gMK6400, with the strongest capacity. It’s a unique strategy and we’re pleased to have two excellent six-axle cranes, each with unique capabilities and designed without compromise.”

the first deliveries of the gMK6400 begin shortly and anticipation is already building (see box story). If the crane can match the early success of the gMK6300L, there’s no doubt Manitowoc’s engineers will be fully vindicated in their strategy.

prodUct FocUs

Six-axle Grove is a global hitAlthough deliveries only began in late 2010, Grove’s GMK6300L already looks like a contender for the Manitowoc Hall of Fame. Chris Bratthauar reports.

T

“We’re always up against weights as it relates to over-the-road restrictions. So it makes everyone’s life easier when a 350 USt crane is easier to move.”Michael Liptak, president of ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp


prodUct FocUs

The Grove GMK6300L is perfect for tower crane erection. This unit, belonging to Central Rent-A-Crane in the U.S., is erecting a Potain MD 485 B in Chicago, Ill.

What they say:“This six-axle machine is packed with so much punch and power in a com-pact package – and then you have all that boom at your disposal. It’s refresh-ing to really ‘get what you signed up for’ in this type of lift equipment. There are no surprises – just competent and powerful performance that lived up to our expectations.”

Michael Liptak, president ALL Erec-tion & Crane Rental Corp., Ohio, U.S.

“This crane is very rentable and we keep it busy every month. We’ve used it in power plants, wind farms, steel mills, ports and construction sites. When there’s nothing available in the 300 t market, we strip the crane down and rent it in the 200 t class, as this is easy to do. We were very impressed with this crane the first time we saw it.”

Arturs Maslovs / Aleksandrs Luka-suks, co-owners of Arsava, Latvia.

“We had a 250 t crane with an 80 m boom, but when we saw the GMK6300L could give us the same reach on a 300 t machine, we knew it was unique. This is one of the best Grove cranes we’ve ever seen. The cab, the structure, the machine overall – everything’s just beautiful.”

Sumit Joshi, managing director Shri Dinesh Cranes Services, India.

“This crane is well-liked among our customer base. We’re now sending it to jobs where we previously sent a 500 t crane — and with that crane we had to rig a jib to get the necessary reach. The GMK6300L has reduced our costs because we can do so many jobs much faster.”

Frank Kulbe, managing director of Heider Kranverleih, Germany.

“The Grove GMK6300L has been inte-gral to the growth of Pollock Cranes. It can handle a versatile range of work and with our four custom-built support units we can move, set-up and tear down this crane very efficiently.”

Wayne Slater, operator, Pollock & Sons Crane Hire Limited, New Zealand.


prodUct FocUs

A long boom leader the most talked about aspect of the gMK6300L is the 80 m (262 ft) main boom, which is understandable, given it’s the longest boom in this class and a clear advantage for owners. And it’s not just the length of the boom that impresses, but its capacity, too. When the boom is extended to its maximum, it still lifts up to 12 t (13.2 ust); while at an extension of 74.8 m (245 ft) capacity is still an impressive 14.3 t (15.8 ust).

the seven-section twin-Lock boom has grove’s patented Megaform shaping for greater rigidity. For further reach, a 37 m (121 ft) jib is available, which means the maximum available length is 117 m (384 ft); the crane can still lift 2 t (2.2 ust) at this height. For those wanting even greater capacity from the boom extension, a heavy-duty jib is available that lifts up to 38 t (42 ust).

With this kind of capacity the crane is ideal for erecting tower cranes, as many customers have found:

“We’ve got the first gMK6300L in sweden and its long main boom is absolutely perfect for assembling tower cranes,” says Christer Edins, CEO of Edins Kraner AB.

For example, when rigging the Potain MDt 308 at a working height of 65 m (213 ft), the crane can easily place the 14.3 t (15.8 ust) sections that make up the tower crane’s jib.

Danny Adair, owner of DJ Adair Cranes in Australia, agrees it’s not only the crane’s long boom, but its capacity that also makes it a standout.

“the long main boom has good capacity along the load chart,” he says. “And it doesn’t need the addition of any superlift.”

Brazilian company saraiva Equipamentos also pays tribute to the crane’s long boom, but guilherme saraiva, operational commercial director, likes that it comes on a crane that has flexible movement, too.

“to get a crane that has this boom length, but also has the capacity and agility of the gMK6300L is excellent,” he says.

Outside its lifting ability, the crane offers a range of features and benefits that are popular with owners, including the self-rigging auxiliary hoist that removes the need for an auxiliary crane. Its versatility means it’s already finding work in applications such as

refinery shutdowns, wind turbine maintenance, vehicle salvage and unloading at ports among others.

Road runnerOn the move, the gMK6300L is a smooth runner, much of it due to its fully automatic transmission with torque converter. the Allison transmission is a strong and reliable performer, even in the toughest of conditions. Its electronic control system allows it to adapt to the changing environment and provide self-diagnostics for easier maintenance. When combined with the patented Megatrak independent suspension system, the gMK6300L has optimum travel both on- and off-road.

Frank Kulbe, managing director of Heider Kranverleih, a gMK6300L owner in northern germany, is one owner who’s impressed with the road performance.

“the crane behaves beautifully on the

road in terms of power and driver comfort,” he says.

Wayne slater of Pollock & sons Crane Hire Limited in New Zealand likes the crane’s carrier, too, but he’s even quicker to praise Megatrak.

“New upgrades to the Megatrak suspension have helped us set up this crane efficiently and safely, even on gradients and uneven ground,” he says.

And it’s not only the ease of set-up that Pollock appreciates. He also points to the simplicity of configuring the crane for road transport.

“Because the crane has the boom removal kit and removable outriggers, we’re able to get it on the road at under 44 t (48.5 ust) total vehicle weight, which gives us almost unlimited legal access to roads across New Zealand,” he says.

this sentiment is echoed by others, including Danny Adair of DJ Adair Cranes.

“the gMK6300L is very compact for

Sumit Joshi, of Shri Dinesh Cranes Services in India.

Left to right: Steve Pollock, Simon Bond and Wayne Slater of Pollock & Sons Crane Hire Limited in New Zealand.

Abdulrahman Al Dossary of Manitowoc dealer YBA Kanoo (left) with Mohammed Al Tamimi of Saudi Arabian company Fahad Al Tamimi.

Frank Kulbe (left) and Heinz Martens of Heider Kranverleih in Germany.


its size and we don’t have to strip much ancillary equipment off it to get it ready for travel,” he says.

the crane has axle spacings of 3.2 m (10.5 ft) between the first pair and 2.5 m (8 ft) between the second pair. this design makes the crane easier to maneuver in many markets, including the u.s. It’s a feature that’s caught the attention of Michael Liptak, president of ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp.

“We’re always up against weights as it relates to over-the-road restrictions,” he says. “so it makes everyone’s life easier when a 350 ust crane is easier to move.”

Further south, in Brazil, the ease of movement of the gMK6300L is also welcome, although for different reasons.

“Brazil’s highways are not the best for moving large machines, but the gMK6300L is relatively compact and easy to move,” says guilherme saraiva of saraiva. “It only requires a few

auxiliary trucks and we can get it on the road quickly.”

A comfortable cabAs with other grove launches of recent years, the gMK6300L features a new carrier cab, a design introduction that first started with the latest generation of four-axle and five-axle cranes. With the step up in size to the gMK6300L, the cab has been adjusted to a wider design to accommodate the larger chassis on the six-axle machine. the spacious layout of the cab means it can comfortably seat three crew members, while its ergonomic layout of instruments and controls makes traveling swift and easy.

“the new carrier cab is very user friendly,” says Christer Edins of Edins Kraner AB. “Aside from the long boom on this crane, it’s one of the features we like best.”

Arturs Maslovs, one of the co-owners of Arsava, says his company uses its gMK6300L throughout its native Latvia and beyond, and notes the cab is well-suited for driving.

“the crane has a very big carrier cab and it’s very good for road travel,” he says.

Designed for successWith a long boom, strong load chart, compact carrier, comfortable cab and smooth road travel, it’s easy to see why the gMK6300L is proving such an international hit. In addition to the customers mentioned here, the crane is also proving a success for users in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Italy,

the Netherlands, switzerland and the uK, among others.

Although it’s clear the long boom has attracted many in the first instance, it’s a testament to the product development process that so many users are quick to praise the crane’s other features, notably its cab, travel and set-up. In an age when crane owners have more choice than ever, any machine that offers the capability to do what others can’t is likely to be the market leader. For six-axle all-terrain cranes, that’s certainly the case with the grove gMK6300L.

prodUct FocUs

Christer Edins, CEO of Edins Kraner AB in Sweden, in front of his GMK6300L.

Jason Pearce of Manitowoc (left) with Danny Adair of DJ Adair Cranes in Australia.

Michael Liptak of ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp., in front of his company’s second GMK6300L.

GMK6400 — coming soonwhile the popularity of the GMK6300l continues to grow, excitement is also building ahead of the launch later this year of the 400 t (450 Ust) GMK6400. Cus-tomers at a Quality Days event in wilhelmshaven, Germany, where the crane is built, got a first look at the crane in operation this past April.

on the test pad, a GMK6400 dem-onstrated its strength by lifting 8 t (8.8 Ust) while rigged with 55 m (180 ft) of main boom and 79 m (259 ft) of luffing jib – a pick that no other six-axle or seven-axle crane can currently manage. For this lift the GMK6400 was fitted with its capacity-enhancing Megawinglift attachment. visitors to the event also saw the crane lift another five-axle GMK weighing 63 t (69 Ust). The GMK6400 had its 60 m (197 ft) boom fully extended for this pick and was again rigged with Megawinglift.

The GMK6400 is entering serial production with the first units due for delivery to customers in Germany, Italy, France and the U.s. later this year.


ore than 400 people attended the inauguration of Manitowoc’s new factory in

Brazil. Among those at the event were some of the country’s most senior politicians, including Michel temer, Brazil’s vice president; and Fernando Pimentel, the Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign trade.

the politicians and local dignitaries mixed with crane owners from across Brazil as well as those who flew in from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Panama and uruguay.

Larry Weyers, executive vice president for Manitowoc in the Americas, said the excellent visitor turnout reflected the factory’s standing in the industry.

“the number and prominence of our guests shows just how important this factory is,” he said. “the Brazilian crane market is one of the fastest growing in the world, and Manitowoc has a long history here and throughout Latin America. Over the past five years we’ve expanded our operations and we’re now ideally placed to serve our customers.”

the facility is located in Passo Fundo, in the southern state of Rio

grande do sul. It is the company’s first crane factory in Latin America and will initially supply grove rough-terrain cranes, not only to Brazil, but across the region.

Manufacturing began in mid-April, and the first crane rolled out of the factory doors in May, headed for the M&t Expo in sao Paulo. the design of the factory is tailored to local manufacturing, but it also has operational elements from two of Manitowoc’s other grove production sites, in shady grove, Pa., in the u.s., and Niella tanaro in Italy.

Heading up the new factory is Mauro Nunes da silva, general manager of operations. He said the biggest challenge was constructing the factory in such a short timeline.

“Once we received approval to build the factory, we wanted to start making cranes as soon as possible,” he said. “Overall, it’s been less than 12 months between signing the agreements and this inauguration. the timeline was tight, and we encountered delays, but everyone did a great job and we’re delighted with the result.”

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Manitowoc’s newest factory has entered full production and that’s good news for mobile crane users in Latin America. Damian Joseph explains why.

Manitowoc’s newest factory, the mobile crane plant in Passo Fundo, Brazil.

Production starts at Passo Fundo

Crane no. 1 one of the big talking points among latin American customers was who would receive the first unit off the production line, with the magical serial number “1”. In the end, the first unit was part of a huge 32-crane order placed by Makro engenharia and it rolled out of production 60 days ahead of schedule.

The first unit is an rT765e-2, a 60 t (65 Ust) crane of the same design used at shady Grove. The only difference between cranes from shady Grove and brazil is the source of components. To begin, cranes from Passo Fundo will com-prise 30 percent locally-sourced components with 70 percent from the U.s. However, Manitowoc’s goal is to reverse those figures over the next three years.

neWs report


cUstomer proFiLe

ne of the uK’s leading engineering services companies, Babcock International group,

has purchased six grove cranes for its Devonport Royal Dockyard facility. the deal was managed through Manitowoc’s uK office, which arranged funding through Manitowoc Finance and a comprehensive five-year parts and service package through Manitowoc Crane Care. the cranes will handle a range of duties, including repairs and maintenance on warships and submarines on behalf of the uK’s Royal Navy.

Operating its own crane fleet is a new approach for Babcock, as it previously rented all cranes at the facility. However, following a business case study that showed cost and efficiency savings if the company operated its own fleet, it put out a tender to buy its own cranes and eventually sealed the deal for the six groves.

Alastair Clark, lifting services manager at Babcock said the operators were happy with the grove cranes.

“the drivers give us very positive feedback,” he said.

Clark also paid tribute to the strong

customer support on hand from Crane Care.

“It gives me reassurance that I will get support if there is a component failure. Crane Care has never let us down – even if we have unusual requests that we need handled at short notice.”

In addition to the gMK5220, there are two 100 t gMK4100L cranes (115 ust gMK4115 in the u.s.); two 50 t (55 ust) gMK3050-1 cranes; plus a 45 t (50 ust) gCK3045 city crane at Devonport. the first units arrived in December 2011 and the final crane arrived in April 2012.

the cranes join two other

gMK4100L units already at Devonport, which belong to the uK government’s Ministry of Defence. the MOD is co-located at the joint Devonport Royal Dockyard and Naval Base and is a longtime purchaser of grove mobile cranes.

to commemorate Babcock’s order, a team from Manitowoc visited Devonport to see the cranes and meet with company management. Among the Manitowoc personnel on the visit were glen tellock, president and CEO of the Manitowoc Company, Inc., and Philippe Cohet, executive vice president of EMEA for Manitowoc Cranes.

Purchase solution for UK company

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A major UK engineering company has purchased a fleet of Grove cranes after years of renting. And the decision is a success, as Ben Shaw discovers.

Commemorating the Babcock order. Left to right are: Alastair Clark, Babcock; Steve Barnett, Manitowoc; Glen Tellock, Manitowoc; Richard Hawkins, Babcock; Philippe Cohet, Manitowoc; Kim Dandridge, Manitowoc.


Factory FocUs

anitowoc Cranes opened a multimillion dollar, state-of-the-art product testing facility at its

shady grove, Pa., complex in the u.s. this past June. the Product Verification Center will rigorously scrutinize every component that goes into a new design for Manitowoc crawler cranes, grove rough-terrain and truck cranes, and National boom trucks.

the goal of the PVC is to produce stronger, more reliable cranes. Manitowoc engineers will gain new insight into the anticipated performance of cranes by testing component performance and their working lifecycles. the testing will speed up the product development phase for new designs, reduce warranty claims and on-site work stoppages, and allow engineers to directly compare supplier components.

Eric Etchart, Manitowoc’s president and general manager, says the Product Verification Center represents an investment in quality.

“By meticulously inspecting the quality and endurance of individual components, we will be able to reach new, unprecedented levels of quality,” he said. “We believe there’s no other facility like this in the crane industry.”

Heavy vettingIn 2009, following an audit of several suppliers, Manitowoc found that many were not testing their products to levels that satisfied the company, largely because there was no set-up in place to put the components through the kind of testing regime that Manitowoc wanted. And for any testing procedures that were taking

place, the measurements were often incomplete. Driven by this realization and the desire to better understand the components that make up Manitowoc’s cranes, the company took the decision to invest in its own verification facility.

At the PVC, suppliers and their components can be vetted before the products are ever placed in cranes. that means Manitowoc engineers can test crane designs earlier in the product development process than was previously possible. this head start will allow them to discover potential pitfalls at an earlier stage and devise solutions long before the cranes reach job sites.

Jim MacIntyre, director of global quality systems for Manitowoc, says the Product Verification Center is already improving crane performance.

“It’s still very early, but we’re already seeing some interesting results. For example, we recently used thermal imaging technology to analyze engine performance on one of our industrial cranes. As a result, we adjusted the design to increase fuel economy and improve productivity,” he said. “In the future, we will be able to replicate this kind of innovation on a much bigger scale.”

An engineer’s playgroundthe center features a number of technologies that will deliver detailed insight into anticipated component performance. Among the most significant are: • Asevereenvironmenttest(HALT)

chamber that can mimic extreme temperature swings and test component reaction to continuous vibration

• A walk-in temperature and humidity chamber that’s large enough to fit entire crane cabs, consoles and power boxes

• A four-channel structural test system with advanced feedback control

• An electrical and software testing lab• Imaging systems for forensic

analysis, including a thermal imaging camera and microscopes

• A materials lab with a scanning electron microscope, flaw detector and hardness tester

• A cyclic corrosion chamber, which recreates salt water exposure and fog conditions

the new facility allows for the testing of entire cranes, too. Engineers are able to view cranes being tested on one of the

While a crane may only be as good as the sum of its parts, if those parts perform better, then it follows that the crane’s performance will improve too. That’s the theory behind a new one-of-a-kind testing center at the Shady Grove factory in the U.S. Damian Joseph reports.

Manitowoc unveils innovative Product Verification Center

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Management from Manitowoc cut the ribbon to officially open the company’s Product Verification Center.


Factory FocUs

Manitowoc unveils innovative Product Verification Center

center’s six test pads and monitor the results in real time. Inside the center, the roof is tall enough to allow for the extension of crane booms, so engineers can accurately re-create jobsite conditions.

Alan Calta, director of the PVC, will lead a specially-trained staff of 41 managers, technicians and engineers. the team has already fashioned a proprietary verification management system to organize, prioritize, summarize, compare and archive the center’s test results. Also, Manitowoc’s experts will be able to develop competitive standards for verification and processes in the future.

said Etchart: “For Manitowoc and its customers, this new center marks the beginning of an exciting phase in modern crane design and testing.”

Management from Manitowoc cut the ribbon to officially open the company’s Product Verification Center.

The PVC team on one of the six test pads located outside the facility.


Job site report

Go Pack Go!Just up the road from the Manitowoc factory in Wis., U.S., a team of the company’s mobile and crawler cranes are helping expand the home stadium of the Green Bay Packers football team. Damian Joseph reports.

ne of the most iconic sports stadiums in the u.s. is getting a face lift as a crew of Manitowoc

and grove cranes help to expand and upgrade Lambeau Field, the home of the green Bay Packers football team. the cranes are lifting structural steel and precast panels for the stadium’s new scoreboards, as well as placing modules for seating, escalators, elevators and more.

the Manitowoc 14000 and Manitowoc 11000 crawler cranes are working with several grove rough-terrain and truck mounted cranes on the $143-million job site. All the cranes belong to Miron Construction, a Neenah, Wis.-based general contractor. the company said it chose the cranes because of the site’s expansive area, multiple work locations and radial shape of the stadium. Luffing jib configurations were chosen to reach the heights of the stadium’s new scoreboards.

Royce Alsbach, vice president of project management for Miron Construction, said the cranes combine versatility and reach.

“this is an ever-changing project that requires many different cranes and configurations,” he said. “We chose the Manitowoc and grove cranes because of their quick setup times, high-reach luffing jibs and overall maneuverability. Considering there are additions to both ends of Lambeau Field, multiple completion milestones, towering scoreboard heights and a large working

radius, we need cranes that can handle a variety of work.”

the Manitowoc 14000 is a 220 ust (200 t) capacity lattice-boom crawler crane that features the patented Can-Bus and EPIC control systems. It uses the FACt connection system for easy set-up and has a Vision Cab, which provides greater visibility and more

ergonomic controls for operators. For the Lambeau Field job, it is configured with a 144 ft (44 m) boom and 150 ft (46 m) luffing jib. the Manitowoc 11000 is a 100 ust (90 t) capacity crawler crane and part of the company’s small crawler line. It is configured with a 170 ft (52 m) boom and 60 ft (18 m) jib.

Along with the Manitowoc crawler cranes, the grove rough-terrain and truck mounted cranes are being utilized in many configurations to unload structural steel, drywall and other construction materials onto the job site. they are also being used to feed electronic components up to the stadium’s new 60 ft by 150 ft (18 m by 46 m) scoreboard at its North end zone, among several other jobs.

When finished in 2013, the revamped Lambeau Field will have 6,700 more seats, two new gates, a rooftop viewing platform, new escalators and elevators, two new HD video boards, a new sound system and several other new features.

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A Grove TMS9000E lifting building components.

The cranes will be on site until 2013.

A Manitowoc crawler crane on the Lambeau Field expansion.


Job site report

Downtown stadium expansionA French stadium expansion needed high capacity-cranes capable of working in a tight Parisian downtown space. Potain topless tower cranes were the perfect solution, as Sophie Cortial reports.

crew of five Potain MDt 368 cranes is helping stade Jean Bouin, a stadium in the French capital Paris,

get a major makeover. the cranes are assisting in tearing down the stadium’s roof and several grandstands, aiding in the construction of a modern fiber concrete roof and the addition of 8,000 seats.

Leon grosse, a major French contractor based in Aix-les-Bains, is managing the project. It rented the five MDt 368 cranes from Franmat, one of the largest rental companies in the country and a major purchaser of Potain cranes.

Franmat, which has its national headquarters in Paris, has been supplying Potain cranes to the market for more than 30 years. It already has a large fleet of Potain MDt topless cranes and owns 12 of the MDt 368 model, the largest in the product line.

Marc Colambani, president of Franmat, said there were several reasons the MDt 368 was suited to work on the Jean Bouin stadium.

“Our first consideration was getting the cranes to the project and assembling them at a congested downtown location,” he said. “the MDt cranes are compact to transport and then fast and easy to assemble on site, so that made them our first choice. Next we needed to decide on the number of cranes and what capacities best suited the project. We worked closely with our customer Leon grosse to establish the

best solution and opted for the MDt 368 cranes.”

the stade Jean Bouin expansion project called for a set of high-capacity cranes working in close proximity, which meant that more overlapping of the crane jibs could be accommodated by using topless, as opposed to traditional

top-slewing cranes that have a cathead. the five Potain MDt 368s are all

setup with different configurations. Four of the cranes are MDt 368 L16s, which have a 16 t (17.6 ust) maximum capacity, and the fifth is a MDt 368 L12, which has a 12 t (13.2 ust) maximum capacity. the jibs on the cranes range

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The Potain MDT cranes will help add a new roof to the stadium plus fit an additional 8,000 seats.


Four of the five Potain MDT 368 cranes working at expansion of the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris.

Job site report

from 60 m to 65 m (197 ft to 213 ft), while the working heights vary between 35.4 m and 65.4 m (116 ft and 215 ft).

the MDt 368 is the flagship in Potain’s popular and distinctive range of topless tower cranes. Its strong lift capabilities and ease-of-assembly are two of the most popular aspects of the cranes and they are featured not only on the MDt 368, but on all cranes in the MDt range.

A major reason the MDt 368 is so easy to mobilize to downtown locations and subsequently assemble is its counterjib, which folds for transport. the crane’s outreach and lift capability require a 21.7 m (71 ft) counterjib — too long for a standard truck. But Manitowoc’s engineers designed a hinge that allows this section to fold for travel, reducing the number of vehicles needed to transport the crane, and making

on-site erection easier. Owners of MDt cranes, such as

Franmat, find further flexibility with the MDt 368, as the crane’s jib sections are interchangeable with those on the MDt 268 and MDt 308 cranes. In addition, a choice of masts is offered, with the standard 2 m x 2 m (6.5 ft x 6.5 ft) or larger 2.45 m x 2.45 m (8 ft x 8 ft) K mast available.

the expanded stade Jean Bouin stadium will open in 2013. Previously, the stadium could hold only 12,000 rugby fans, but when work has finished it will seat 20,000. the revamped facility will also have a host of other new features, including an underground parking garage. the stadium is located right in the center of Paris, next door to the Parc des Princes soccer stadium, and is the home of the stade Francais rugby team.

“The MDT cranes are compact to transport and then fast and easy to assemble on site, so that made them our first choice.”Marc Colambani, president of Franmat


n the eastern province of Papua, Indonesia, a team of Manitowoc cranes is working on one of the world’s largest

and most remote mining operations. the cranes are based across the Pt Freeport Indonesia facility, a huge copper and gold mine, that stretches from sea level up to altitudes of 4,270 m (14,000 ft), and which covers 130 km2 (50 miles2). the versatility and reliability of the Manitowoc and grove cranes make them a favorite with the equipment managers.

Alan Walpole, business support manager at Pt Freeport Indonesia, says the demands of the facility are carefully considered when purchasing new equipment.

“Our location has extreme weather conditions — the tropical climate means it is very humid and hot,” he said. “this can affect the electronics on a crane, and electrical faults can create unnecessary downtime. For us, downtime during a priority period can lead to costly delays in cargo movement, so we plan to avoid or minimize this wherever possible.”

given these conditions, grove rough-terrain cranes are a natural choice. the cranes have a rugged design that includes minimal electronics (mostly to enhance operating performance) combined with a straightforward layout of service points. Models working at Pt Freeport Indonesia include Rt9130E, Rt890E, Rt650E and Rt530E-2 units, plus older Rt855 and Rt745 cranes.

From the crawler crane product line, the facility is using a Manitowoc 14000, plus there are three YardBoss YB7725 cranes from the industrial crane line.

Alan Walpole says the company looks at several factors when selecting cranes.

“First we look at the lifting activities and the location we need them in,” he says. “then we look at the area each crane must cover and the specific loads we need to move. this allows us to narrow our crane selections based on maneuverability and size. We also examine the available parts and service support, because keeping the crane working is vital for us.”

Cranes from Manitowoc meet all the requirements for Pt Freeport Indonesia and each has a clearly defined role. For example, the 200 t (220 ust) Manitowoc 14000 cranes are used at the port for loading and unloading cargo, such as heavy earth-moving machinery, shipping containers, structural steel and more.

the grove 120 t (130 ust) Rt9130E and 80 t (90 ust) Rt890E cranes, along

with other high-capacity grove Rt cranes, work in both the lowland and highland sectors, handling loads at warehouses and heavier components at more remote parts of the site. these cranes have excellent mobility and drive long distances to support heavy lift requirements.

the 45 t (50 ust) Rt650E and 30 t (30 ust) Rt530E-2 handle lighter lifting duties, from warehouse work and construction of new buildings to remote maintenance on heavy equipment. Like the larger grove Rt cranes, these smaller units travel throughout the site’s demanding terrain.

the Manitowoc cranes are supplied via the company’s regional headquarters in singapore. Manitowoc Crane Care support is coordinated from there, too. Walpole said Crane Care’s comprehensive parts and service supply, plus the cranes’ intelligent design, impress him the most.

“We want a manufacturer that can deliver the parts and service we need,

Job site report

Strong cranes meet mine challenge

PT Freeport Indonesia and Manitowoc staff with one of the new Grove RTs for the mine owner. Left to right are: Syamsol, PT Freeport; Rich DeWease, Manitowoc; Paul Cutchall, Manitowoc; Desmond Lim, Manitowoc; Abdul Wahhab Nurdhani, PT Freeport; Ryland Group, Manitowoc; Doug McCarney, Manitowoc; Moein Suadi, PT Freeport.

Manitowoc’s commitment to rugged and reliable crane designs, backed by superior product, is a winning formula for one of the world’s largest mining facilities. Punitha Govindasamy reports.

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Job site report

Strong cranes meet mine challenge

A Manitowoc 14000 crawler crane loading a truck at the port of the PT Freeport Indonesia facility.

and can also design cranes that have a simple approach to maintenance,” he said. “We need easy access to service points, a simple mechanical design, robust and reliable components, and concise maintenance manuals.”

In addition, says Walpole, the company looks at the operator friendliness of cranes and commonality of controls across products.

“Our crane operators find the Manitowoc and grove machines comfortable and easy to operate, and they like their excellent maneuverability and reliability” he said. “We get good

parts support from Manitowoc Crane Care and the layout of the cranes makes life easier for our maintenance teams.”

Desmond Lim, regional sales manager for Manitowoc Cranes in Asia, and the man in charge of crane sales to Pt Freeport Indonesia, said the facility is a leading light for the mining industry.

“the success of Manitowoc cranes at Pt Freeport Indonesia is a real advertisement for how well-suited they are to mining applications,” he said. “the facility is one of the best in the industry, but it also operates in some of the toughest conditions — even in an industry known for difficult conditions. We’re glad our cranes can play a part in keeping this huge mining operation moving.”

“Our crane operators find the Manitowoc and Grove machines comfortable and easy to operate.”Alan Walpole, business support manager at PT Freeport Indonesia


Growth in GhanaA long-term outlook and a solid history have helped Paterson Simons become one of Africa’s leading suppliers of Grove cranes. Sophie Cortial reports.

Staff from Paterson Simons & Co. (Africa) Ltd., Pasico Ghana Limited, Manitowoc Cranes and Newmont Ghana Gold, in front of the new Grove RT9150E for Newmont’s Akyem site in Ghana.

deaLer proFiLe

hana’s mining industry is one of the fastest developing in the world and companies in the

country are looking for greater support for their facilities. For cranes, that means a lot of work for Paterson simons & Co. (Africa) Ltd., Manitowoc’s dealer for the country and its local subsidiary company Pasico ghana Limited.

John traynor, managing director of Paterson simons, says that interest is high not only in cranes, but in their support and maintenance, too.

“Last year we organized a crane safety conference with Manitowoc Crane Care and the response was excellent,” he said. “Mine operators want to own their equipment, as crane rental availability can be in short supply in ghana. Plus they want the same support available in developed markets. Our company has always invested here, even when the market was smaller, so we’re now seeing increased demand and growth. We’re the only supplier that’s

got the resources to provide the products, service and support that crane owners want.”

As evidence for its claim, Paterson simons has announced the sale of a grove Rt9150E in ghana, the largest rough-terrain crane in the world and the first to be sold in the EMEA region. the 135 t (150 ust) unit was sold to a new gold mine run by Newmont ghana gold, a subsidiary of u.s. company Newmont Mining Corporation.

the company chose the giant rough-terrain crane over a large-capacity all-terrain crane because the machine will not move from the mine site throughout its lifetime. this meant highway capabilities were less important, and on-site performance was more important.

traynor explains that although grove all-terrain cranes are hugely popular in ghana, for Newmont the Rt9150E is a better option.

“usually for work over 80 t, grove all-terrain cranes are popular. that’s because there are fewer lifts requiring

cranes bigger than this, so companies purchase all-terrain cranes, as they can move them between sites and maximize their utilization,” he says. “However, in the case of Newmont ghana gold the Rt9150E is a perfect option, as it won’t move between sites and it has the proven performance of a grove rough-terrain crane.”

the 135 t (150 ust) grove Rt9150E will join up to 14 other Manitowoc and grove cranes during the development of the new facility at the Akyem site. Paterson simons and Pasico have two engineers permanently based on site.

traynor says that over the past 30 years, there has been a huge educational process in terms of building the grove brand in ghana. But the time spent doing that has been worthwhile – the company doubled its turnover last year and is on course to record a further increase this year. Its business model is a perfect example of how investing and staying committed pays dividends. there’s no doubt the company deserves its current success.

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prodUct FocUs

anitowoc has introduced its first topless crane produced in Asia. the new crane, designated

MCt 385, has a 20 t (22 ust) capacity and includes all the hallmarks of quality that customers expect from Potain’s topless cranes. these include streamlined transport, easy assembly, an excellent load chart and high-strength structural components.

the crane, manufactured in Manitowoc’s manufacturing facility in China, is targeted to customers in Asia and other emerging markets. the MCt 385 has a maximum load moment of close to 400 tm and was designed by Manitowoc engineers in Europe and Asia. the end result is a crane with high-quality lifting performance in a design suited to regional needs.

Raymond tang, Manitowoc’s regional product manager for tower cranes in Asia-Pacific, said the MCt 385 is a cost-effective and powerful crane that demonstrates a commitment to new product development.

“there is established value in the cranes we build in Asia, and our customers appreciate that,” he said. “Producing a topless crane here gives customers another choice and we’re pleased with the success of the crane so far.”

the crane has a new mast that measures just 2 m (6.5 ft) wide and can achieve a maximum free-standing height of 64.9 m (213 ft). this compact mast is ideal for congested urban projects. Owners have a choice of two mast

lengths, either 5 m or 3.33 m (16.5 ft or 11 ft). Climbing is easier than before as the hook height can be a maximum of 54 m (177 ft) above the last anchor points, and the design allows for internal climbing on high rise buildings.

the compact jib design, streamlined counter jib and flexible mast system make the MCt 385 easy to transport and assemble. For faster assembly, the

crane has a new pin connection system and its riggers benefit from a full walkway with independent safety line when assembling the jib.

the MCt 385 has frequency-controlled mechanisms for hoisting, trolleying and slewing, providing smooth movements and precise positioning. Maintaining and repairing the mechanisms are straightforward,

as they are conveniently located for service personnel.

Potain put the crane through a rigorous eight-month product testing process prior to its launch, testing both the structure and components to ensure product quality expectations were met.

When testing completed, the first eight MCt 385 cranes went to job sites managed by selected Potain partner

companies. seven of the first eight cranes belong to Manta group, Potain’s dealer for Hong Kong and singapore. these cranes are being monitored and they are currently performing well. Once Manitowoc is satisfied with this on-site monitoring process, deliveries will begin, with the first scheduled for later in 2012.

“There is established value in the cranes we build in Asia, and our customers appreciate that. Producing a topless crane here gives customers another choice and we’re pleased with the success of the crane so far.”Raymond Tang, regional product manager for tower cranes in Asia-Pacific.

New crane emerges

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Manitowoc has launched a new Potain topless tower crane for emerg-ing markets. Punitha Govindasamy reports.

The new MCT 385 from Potain is easy to transport and fast to assemble.


crane care

he latest Manitowoc Crane Care initiatives for grove cranes were discussed during a three-day

conference at a hotel in Wilhelmshaven, germany; close to Manitowoc’s grove all-terrain crane factory. In addition to the 60-plus dealer representatives, there were more than 40 Manitowoc Crane Care employees at the event.

Chairing the event was Eric Pommier, vice president of Manitowoc Crane Care in EMEA, who said that constant communication between the company and its dealers was essential in providing successful customer support.

“We offer customer support directly through Manitowoc Crane Care and through our accredited and audited Manitowoc Crane Care dealers,” he said. “Our dealers represent us in parts, service and maintenance. to ensure we provide the highest levels of support to Manitowoc users, it is vital that our staff and dealers communicate regularly. It helps the dealers stay up to date with the vast array of services and resources we have available to them.”

Although the dealers attended only from the EMEA region, the Manitowoc Crane Care representatives were from the organization’s global offices, giving the event a truly international feel.

Among those flying in for the event was Bob Hund, executive vice president of Manitowoc Crane Care. He presented a global overview of Crane Care to attendees, highlighting the importance of each element.

“Manitowoc Crane Care is the fastest growing operation inside Manitowoc Cranes,” he said. “Our growth comes in two ways. First is geographical growth, which happens when we launch services in new countries and strengthen or expand

them in more-established markets. second is service growth, where we introduce new and better ways of supporting our customers.”

Many of the latest service launches were discussed in Wilhelmshaven. For example gilberto Ferreira, who was appointed to a new position as global head of EnCORE late last year, made a key presentation, highlighting the company’s plans to roll out an expansion of the repair and refurbishment division.

Last year, EnCORE appointed and audited 10 dealer representatives in the u.s., creating the only comprehensive, nationwide rebuild service network in that country. It’s a template that Manitowoc believes represents the future of crane refurbishment and there are plans to replicate the formula in EMEA.

Delegates also heard from Jean-Jacques Habib, project manager on Manitowoc’s CranestAR asset-monitoring system. the remote monitoring system gives customers the ability to review vital information on their cranes’ performance from any internet-connected device. the technology is already included in many new Manitowoc cranes and is working well on job sites around EMEA and the rest of the world.

Other presentations covered parts ordering, logistics, training and updates to control systems.

Service updateT

More than 60 representatives from Manitowoc Crane Care dealers around EMEA met to discuss the latest service initiatives for Grove mobile cranes. John Bittner reports.

Delegates at a Manitowoc Crane Care conference in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The conference covered the latest service initiatives for Grove mobile cranes.

“Manitowoc Crane Care is the fastest growing operation inside Manitowoc Cranes.”Bob Hund, executive vice president of Manitowoc Crane Care


technicaL Update

n Igo 50 restored under Crane Care’s EnCORE program was one of two Potain self-erecting cranes

that suffered near total destruction in a huge fire at a job site in the south of England. the brutal fire razed the project to the ground and required more than 100 firefighters and 16 fire trucks to extinguish the flames.

Following the incident, both the Igo 50 and the other crane, an HD 40, were returned to Manitowoc’s uK facility in Buckingham for insurance assessment. Although the HD 40 was deemed beyond repair, the Igo 50 showed some signs that it might be salvaged.

steve Bradby, Manitowoc Crane

Care’s after sales manager for tower cranes in the uK, said the cost of repairs had to be assessed versus the cost of replacement.

“We have a full Manitowoc Crane Care workshop at our Buckingham facility that carries out work under our EnCORE rebuild and refurbishment program,” he said. “Although the damage was extensive, we knew we had the resources and the staff to repair the Igo 50. It was just a case of assessing the cost of the work. In the end, because the Igo 50 is a modern design and a productive crane, we calculated it would be worth rebuilding the crane.”

With the decision made, Manitowoc Crane Care set about the extensive rebuild work. First the crane was stripped down and cleaned before being dismantled, and then had numerous components replaced, including:• Allropes,includingerectionrope

and ballasting rope• Allcablesalongthemast• Mastram• Hydraulicmasterunitandall

hydraulic hoses• Dynometricring

• Alljibpulleys• Allfourchassislegs• Bothdiagonalbraces• Lowermastsection• Allconcreteballast• Anemometerkit• Radioremotecontrolhandset

In addition to this work , the EnCORE team repainted the chassis and steel ballast, stripped down and repainted the jib, and then rebuilt the jib with all new pulleys. And although the HD 40 was deemed beyond repair, it was not completely scrapped, as several of its parts were refurbished by EnCORE and are presently for sale.

With the EnCORE rebuild of the Igo 50 complete, the crane was supplied to its original owner, Ladybird Crane Hire. Robert Bird, managing director of the company, said he was delighted with the craftsmanship on the rebuild.

“We know the Igo 50 model very well, and when we first saw the damage we were convinced it would be a write-off,” he said. “But the Manitowoc Crane Care team did a great job in restoring the crane to its former glory. It’s already back in our fleet, and out on hire.”

Igo rises from the ashesA Potain Igo 50 ravaged by fire was restored to its for-mer glory by the Manitowoc Crane Care team in the UK. Ronan Cloud reports.

A fire-damaged Igo 50 arrives at the Manitowoc facility in Buckingham, UK, ahead of its refurbishment by EnCORE.

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Solid gold lifting performance

New Australian Grove dealer

Celebrating new Manitowoc dealer RMB Service Group. Left to right are: Brad Cooper, Manitowoc; Myles Woodhart, RMB Service Group; Kelvin Kent, Manitowoc; Cheryl Woodhart, RMB Service Group; Neil Hollingshead, Manitowoc.

Barrick gold is using several new Manitowoc and grove cranes – rough-terrain cranes and crawler cranes — at the Pascua Lama mine site in the Andes Mountains. the cranes will work at extremely high altitudes in the open pit mining project that is spread between the border of Chile and Argentina. On-site temperatures will reach sub-zero levels and work will continue around the clock.

On the jobsite, the crawler cranes will help maintain and expand the processing plant and other infrastructure. the rough-terrain cranes will support this work and will also be used to maintain the mobile processing equipment at the site, such as the articulated dump trucks.

the mining project in Pascua Lama began in 2011. the $5 billion job site’s first production is expected in mid-2013.

Faster, higher, stronger

Close to 50 Potain tower cranes and several grove mobile cranes are helping with preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in sochi, Russia. the cranes are working for a number of different contractors and were supplied by rental companies from across the country.

the largest single collection of Manitowoc models are the 16 cranes working on the Cross-Country skiing and Biathlon complex, Psekhako Ridge. Potain cranes can also be

found on the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center, where up to seven tower cranes have been used.

Potain cranes are also building a series of hotels and the main office building for the International Olympic Committee.

In addition to tower cranes, there are also grove cranes in the region. On the main rail project from Adler to Krasnaya Polyana, which will transport athletes and visitors to the Olympic site, there are three grove all-terrain cranes.

Manitowoc has strengthened its Australian coverage by appointing a new dealer for south Australia and the Northern territories. RMB service group will represent Manitowoc crawler cranes, grove mobile cranes and National Crane boom trucks in the two Australian states.

Kelvin Kent, general manager for Manitowoc in Australia, said this appointment highlights the strength of the company’s existing sales network and its desire for growth.

“this is our first new dealer in Australia for 10 years,” he said. “We’ve got an established sales team and excellent regional dealers who have grown our presence over the past decade. Appointing RMB is a natural next step and allows us to provide even stronger support in some key areas.”

RMB service group employs 23 service personnel. the company also has a 2,000 m2 (21,500 ft2) fully equipped workshop, and will be a Manitowoc Crane Care dealer for parts and service.

Potain tower cranes in Sochi, Russia helping with Winter Olympics preparation.

Two Manitowoc crawler cranes at the Barrick Gold facility.

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Fixed jib for 16000

Fourth Grove for Australia’s Kwik

Award for faster parts deliveries

In front of the new GMK5170 for Kwik Transport and Crane Hire. Left to right are: Stephen Lazenby, WATM; Peter Robinson, Kwik; Ryan Caporn, Kwik; Anthony Lazenby, WATM; Brent Ohearn, Kwik; Robin Cohen, Kwik; Sam Ohearn, Kwik.The new fixed jib attachment for

the Manitowoc 16000.

Manitowoc Cranes has released a fixed jib option for its popular 400 t (440 ust) crawler crane, the Manitowoc 16000. this new option, designed at the request of many customers, complements the existing luffing jib attachment.

the fixed jib has a 93 t (102 ust) capacity and a maximum length of 42.7 m (140 ft). At a length of 24.4 m (80 ft), the fixed jib can be installed on a 72 m (236.2 ft) main boom.

this newly designed jib helps reduce rigging time for applications where luffing is not required or at sites that do not facilitate the use of a luffing jib. A fixed jib for this capacity is typically used in offshore oil platform fabrication yards, on transportation and infrastructure projects, as well as in refineries and petrochemical facilities.

Continuing Manitowoc’s commitment to asset utilization, the 16000 fixed jib incorporates inserts and other components from the Manitowoc 2250 luffing jib.

Western Australian crane hire company Kwik transport and Crane Hire has added its fourth grove all-terrain crane. Its latest delivery is the largest, the 170 t capacity gMK5170 (225 ust gMK5225 in the u.s.). It is also the largest crane in the Kwik fleet.

Peter Robinson, general manager for Kwik, says adding the gMK5170 allows

the company to win work in new markets.

“As we’ve grown our client base and broadened our work portfolio, we have continued to invest in larger grove cranes,” he said. “In our view, the flexibility, lifting and long-reach capabilities of grove all-terrain cranes are superior to any other cranes.”

Other grove all-terrain

cranes in the Kwik fleet include a gMK3055 and two gMK4080-1 (gMK4100B in the u.s.) units. Kwik purchased all four cranes from Manitowoc dealer WAtM Crane sales and services. Kwik transport and Crane Hire’s management team is Peter Robinson, Craig smith-gander and Ryan Caporn.

Manitowoc has recognized seven members of Crane Care with an internal innovation award for their efforts in speeding up global spare parts deliveries. the initiative was run through Crane Care’s Order Fulfilment solution Center. Handling the work was a team comprised of Crane Care employees around the world who created and implemented a direct ship program. the program bypasses regional Crane Care and customs facilities that traditionally slow shipments.

they accomplished this by sharing inventory globally from just two distribution centers, executing same day shipments, lengthening

cutoff times, increasing holiday and weekend shipments, and training staff to expedite shipping. Along with the changes, information that includes global inventories, pricing and customer ordering have been moved online or improved, allowing for greater shared data access

among the company’s divisions.

the result is an increase in crane uptime for customers by one to five days and a drop in the average time it takes to fulfill an order from 5.4 days to 4.0 days. team leader on the project was Jérôme Chanel.

Manitowoc management present Crane Care staff with an innovation award. Left to right are: John Kiel, Scott Reeves, Lesley Storey, Jérôme Chanel, Eric Etchart, Bob Hund and Jens Ennen.

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Documents

Success for GMK6300L - manitowoccranes.com/media/Files/Looking Up/2012... · Success for GMK6300L. 2 | Looking Up | August 2012 In this issue we look in detail at the grove gMK6300L